BlackBerry returns to Korean market with launch of the Priv

Following earlier reports that highlighted BlackBerry's plans to return to the Korean market, BlackBerry has now announced official availability of the Priv there at a launch event held in Seoul. As noted by Yonhap News Agency:

It is BlackBerry's first smartphone launched in South Korea since it pulled out of the Korean market three years ago. The launch of the Priv smartphone in the Korean market came as foreign smartphone makers, such as Japan's Sony and China's Huawei, are seeking to gain market shares in the country's medium-range smartphone market. The retail price for the Priv smartphone, which was unveiled last year, was set at 598,000 won (US$534) in South Korea.

As mentioned when the news first appeared, it remains to be seen how well the Priv will be adopted in South Korea but adding another area to the list of where BlackBerry phones are available certainly cannot hurt. I highly doubt John Chen would just make the Priv available and leave it at that. Eventually, the DTEK50 and whatever comes after could see release to the Korean market as well.

As mentioned when the news first appeared, it remains to be seen how well the Priv will be adopted in South Korea but adding another area to the list of where BlackBerry phones are available certainly cannot hurt.

Europe or Austria it is much more expensive than in other places I paid 750 Euros that's quite a lot the Dteck 50 is for sure more expensive like 325 Euros I paid a reason why business is not going up!

Who snapped the photograph? It is totally distracting due to the unusually long arms, big hands, and oddly shaped arms of the women in the picture. Not to mention the Privs are so large they look like tablets. OK...carry on!

Selling a BlackBerry in the land of Samsung and LG must be quite a challenge. A bit like selling a BlackBerry in the land of Apple. Has there ever been any mention of a Priv 2? I have heard from some that it tried to do a lot, but failed in certain areas? Why not fix those and re-do it? Can't be that expensive?

Soon, BlackBerry will have a selection of Android phones to choose from and then no one will be able to say that they don't have a phone that people want as Android is the best selling OS on the market. And...they're writing apps that make Android more productive and more secure. It almost seems to be happening quietly too. Most of the anti-BlackBerry media is still writing about them getting out of the handset business. Once they have a selection of phones running the most popular OS on the market...why would they be concerned about doing that?

They'll soon be a viable option for anyone considering an Android handset.

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